sbdcsierra Chapter 113 Cold Water
Chapter 113 Cold Water
Unexpectedly, Zhuang Baibu asked enthusiastically, "Will fifty men be enough for you?"
This number of people shocked not only Shen Lingzhu but also Old Boss Geng.
My goodness, a centurion's office has only 112 people at full capacity, and you just asked for half of them.
However, the two reacted very quickly and took whatever they were given today, but they had to make it clear that it was only for today.
Zhuang Baibu was very happy that they agreed, so he readily quoted a price of fifteen taels for a five-year lease.
"Sign!" The price of the orchard was so low that Mr. Geng, the boss, would of course take advantage of it immediately.
So in less than an hour, this vineyard was temporarily owned by Geng's Winery, but the actual person in charge was Shen Miaozhu.
Then the fifty middle-aged and elderly women sent by Zhuang Baibu gathered in front of her.
Shen Lingzhu finally understood why they were given fifty people at once. It turned out that they were all family members of the military households at the horse farm.
However, these people were good at their work. After Shen Miaozhu briefly explained the precautions, they worked very hard to weed.
Shen Lingzhu wanted to go forward and help cut the weeds, but was pushed away by them.
She watched her senior sister standing inside directing the work. The weeds were slowly being cleared away, revealing the intertwined, yet largely undamaged, grapes. She couldn't help but wonder, "Didn't these people get any land?"
"Even if we get a share, it won't be enough to eat." Shen Xianzhu handed the badges to the two of them, "From now on, we can only enter through the valley entrance if we have a badge."
Shen Lingzhu took a wooden plaque engraved with the name and horse logo and asked, "Still not willing to give more?"
"Well, Captain Zhuang only gave me four yuan, no more.
He said he recognized both badges and people, and that he wanted to see the guards when we left. Shen Xianzhu was more worried about:
“If Uncle Huang wants to come in on my behalf in the future, he can’t.
Shen Lingzhu didn't think it was a big problem: "Brother, there must be a way to get to the mountain. Besides, we are only picking fruits this year and won't be coming in often.
Even if we need more care next year, then…” She raised her chin towards the weeders, “this many people should be enough.”
Shen Xianzhu wasn't trying to discourage her; the reality was, "But transporting things outside isn't very good. Horse-drawn carriages can't get in here, so we can only use animals and manpower to transport the grapes home."
"Brother, this year's batch of goods was shipped to our house because Mr. Geng didn't like them. Next year, when the quality improves, we can transport them directly from the Jiehe River to Laoquankou.
Don't forget, the river valley across the hillside is most convenient for shipping." Shen Lingzhu was not worried at all.
Shen Xianzhu was not optimistic: "That's a special waterway for transporting grain and horses. It's more expensive than renting a carriage if you want to use it."
Shen Lingzhu slowly turned around and looked at him: "Brother, are you here to throw cold water on me on purpose?"
"No, no, no." Shen Xianzhu saw her frown and quickly smiled to please her. He decisively changed the subject and asked her, "Do you know why Second Sister didn't ask Old Master Geng to share some good-looking grapes?"
When they signed the land lease, they went to the other side to plant grapes on a gentle slope, which looked good and tasted sweet.
After asking, I found out that every autumn those sweet grapes are transported to the provincial capital by water and sold, and they sell very well.
At this moment, Mr. Geng was picking fruits on the other side.
Shen Lingzhu said: "If we divide it evenly, Mr. Geng will definitely get less.
My second sister would never do anything that would make her partners unhappy.
Besides, he won’t take any of this year’s harvest.
Next year will be the beginning of our equal division.”
Shen Xianzhu was just about to say that once the Geng family made wine this year, they might not be willing to cooperate with us next year, but then he thought of his sister being angry, so he chose to go home and discuss it with his father without hesitation.
In fact, Shen Lingzhu and her senior sister had both thought about this problem, but what they wanted most was actually this grape vine.
If we don’t cooperate next year, it won’t affect our company too much. We just won’t have to use Geng’s downstream channels, and we will have to spend more effort to sell our wine.
While the two siblings were talking, a large area of grass over there had already been pulled out.
Seeing that the women had already skillfully removed the grapevines, Shen Miaozhu left the weed area and waved to her elder brother and apprentice sister, "Go home, get some backpacks, rent a few donkeys and mules, and let Uncle know you're safe."
Shen Lingzhu ran over and said, "It's a waste of time going back and forth. It's better to buy from these people."
Shen Miaozhu asked, "Do you know how much they sell a large thorn basket for?"
"How many?"
"Thirty cents."
"I'll take them home. If they're not enough, I'll borrow a few from my clan." Shen Lingzhu was still unwilling to spend unnecessary money.
So, she and her eldest brother went home first. As a result, Mrs. Hu only saw two people. "Where is Miaozhu?"
Shen Xianzhu said there was still Grape Valley on the edge of the valley, and Hu thought he was there with Mr. Geng.
Unexpectedly, after Shen Lingzhu told them what happened in detail, Mrs. Hu became anxious and said, "It's not appropriate to leave her alone in a strange place. Xianzhu, you should go back immediately.
The task of delivering the basket is to be done by Lingzhu and your father. No, your father is cutting wood in the mountains.
I'd better ask your Uncle Nine to send it off later."
The family gave all the workers a five-day holiday.
Poor Shen Xianzhu didn't even finish his cup of tea before he rushed to protect his second sister.
On Shen Lingzhu's side, she followed her aunt to find someone to borrow a large basket.
This loan also caused problems. Shen Jianxuan, who had attacked Shen Lingzhu last time, once again learned from his friends that his enemy was walking around in the village.
So he found the slingshot that his grandfather had confiscated, prepared to skip school again and look for an opportunity to shoot Shen Lingzhu.
But by mistake, he shot his third uncle Shen Man, causing the latter to prostrate himself before Hu.
Fortunately, Shen Lingzhu was agile and immediately hugged her aunt and took a few steps back, otherwise she would have been knocked down and caused a big accident.
People who saw it on the roadside were all shocked. Some came forward to help Shen Man up, and some came forward to show concern for Hu.
"Shen Jianxuan, it's you again!" Shen Lingzhu confirmed that his aunt was fine and wanted to chase the person who slid down the tree.
Mrs. Hu held on to her tightly and refused to let go because someone had already acted on her behalf.
Shen Man was seriously injured this time, his nose was bleeding. He endured the pain and went home for just a moment, when his third grandmother came to the school with a small rolling stick to beat her grandson.
"It's a pity that Third Grandma can't stop people." Shen Lingzhu thought with his knees, and knew that the instigator of the harm would not dare to return to the school.
She also advised: "Aunt, you'd better not go to the village anymore recently."
A woman from the same village nearby also advised Hu not to overwork herself before giving birth, and even brought out a chair from home for her to rest.
Hu's heartbeat suddenly quickened after a false alarm. "It's okay, it's just a short walk."
Auntie Jiu, who came running over after hearing the news, was sweating profusely: "Is Sister-in-law Wu okay? The child's father is not at home because he is out in the fields pulling beans.
I'll borrow a car to take you two home."
She just said this and ran away like the wind.
Mrs. Hu sighed softly, "It seems that I am indeed better off staying at home..." Before she could even utter the word "good", she heard the screams of Third Grandma coming from the alley next door...